[Virginia Tech Department of Physics]

Lecture Demonstrations

Electricity & Magnetism
   

E56: Force Between Parallel Currents

 

Purpose: To demonstrate the forces between two parallel current-carrying wires.

Description:

 

The new Cenco apparatus is self contained with swiveling stiff wiresfor repelling or attracting. You can easily swap the wires around to change the direction of the current flow.

The old apparatus consists of a ring stand supporting two parallel wires and binding posts to which large pulsed currents may be applied. The currents may be chosen to run either parallel or antiparallel in these wires. A low voltage high current D.C. power supply provides the source of current. Car battery works better than D.C. power supply.

  1. To demonstrate repulsion between the wires, the currents must run in opposite directions. To do this, merely remove the connector from the two binding posts on the lower end of the stand and then connect the D.C. power supply. It is important that the current be pulsed to 6 volts for only a few seconds, as a large amount of heat develops in the wires.
  2. To demonstrate attraction between the wires, the currents must run in the same direction. This may be done by having both shorts connected at the top and bottom and then connecting a terminal of the power supply to the top binding post and the other to the bottom. Again, only pulse the currents.

or

Equipment List: Storage Location: CHEMP 130A

 

Apparatus already set up. B6

References:

Manual: None   Setup Notes: E56 PIRA #:
Manufacturer(s): Cenco#WLS1810-43, VT Other school's Demonstration web pages

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